Use our rumours form to send us arsenal transfer rumours.
21 Jan 2013 23:50:16
Wenger how about you put your hand in stans pocket and get micah richards mbiwa capoue and zaha..dont think about it just do it
Szec
Richards mbiwa verm gibbs
Capoue diaby
Walcott wilshere ox
Podolski
Subs from
Zaha cazorla arteta kosci merti jenko ramsey giroud eisfeld gnabry aneke coquelun frimpo
GS
Have you not realised yet. Stans got padlocks on his pockets!
Paul - Rochester
21 Jan 2013 23:48:31
hi ed, with coquelin going on loan to betis could a possible deal to sign benat look more possible or any midfielder at all? {Ed027's Note -if Francis does indeed go out on loan, i would expect someone to come in, i would be shocked, really shocked if no one came in
Ed027, like we were shocked when Song was sold and no one came in :), its happened before. It will be interesting to see how long Wenger lasts at Madrid when he refuses to rope in big names or does not know how to man manage Iker, CR etc..
Ash
If you heard wenger's last comments about the players - it's pretty clear that we aren't signing anyone
Billybob
21 Jan 2013 23:44:48
Szczesny
Sagna Yanga-Mbiwa Vermaelen Gibbs
Wilshere Diame
Walcott Cazorla Podolski
Villa.
Subs:Mannone, Mertesacker, Jenko, Arteta, Diaby, Coquelin, Ox, Gervinho, Ramsey, Giroud
Would only cost £20m. Wenger pls
21 Jan 2013 23:37:24
I think sagna has gone he just don't seemed bothered anymore he's lost he's pace, I remember when he was up the pitch then he would be straight back down I just think he's legs are going every time he started to run down the line with the ball even if he was a yard in front of the player chasing him he would get half way and stop and look to pass it in the middle even when he had loads of room to run into and he's crossing is awful I don't think he put one decent cross in against Chelsea. For me jenkinson should be there he has got so much energy and a pretty good crosser of the ball and for me he hasn't really done one thing wrong this season.
Also I realized just how much we need Podolski on the left we missed him big time on Sunday Carzola was never really on the left side that much so Gibbs was really covering the whole left side himself. towards the end of the game Carzola started to stay on the left and run in the middle with the ball but we defiantly need Podolski.
Charlie Gooner 4 life
Totally agree, the 2 leg breaks seems to have ruined Sagnas pace and fitness, he was defo our worst player on sunday and I honestly think he's not signing a new contract andas a result his mind is elsewhere, not devoted to the arsenal cause.... Jenkinson is good, but a Nathaniel clyne would fit in nicely! talking of southampton player, Luke Shaw would be so good at left, and what a british core we would have in the team if we got them 2 aswell, along with chamberlain, gibbs, walcott, wilshere, ramsey, jenkinson... I think ramsey deserves another chence along with wilshere, he was pretty good coming on against city and chelsea
21 Jan 2013 23:16:27
In all seriousness though, as much as I have been dissing our current arsenal side in the last couple of weeks and as much as I've been critical of Wenger, losing him I don't think will help us one bit. he's been so successful at Arsenal and in the last 6-7 years its gone from okay to bad to worse to squillaci worse but I really want him to have a happy ending to his arsenal career, where he had a successful begining, a rough patch in the middle where players desserted him and then hopefully a strong finish to his Arsenal career with a couple more cups to prove it, all AW needs is the boards total backing and money, why can't the board just come out tomorrow and say to the reporter of the Sun "ive given AW a 70 million transfer kitty and if we don't challenge for the title next year we will sack the old fart"... but I don't think its Wengers lack of ambition, but more the board! We should be ever grateful for Wenger, but a change in players is defo needed, (starting with Gervinhos haircut) ;) #hench forehead
You want Wenger to end on a successful note - well I just wish Wenger was the same!
He has no ambition, other than to maximise club income with CL football and minimise spending.
He has done enough good for the club, we are safe for decades, now Wenger needs to show everyone he can still be a winner.
21 Jan 2013 23:13:37
I copy and pasted this from a reply I sent on a rumour, but I think it should be put on here as well to get another opinion on who we should, although most likely won't sign.
The player we are screaming for, is Victor Wanyama.
I support both Celtic and Arsenal and I feel this helps in this situation, as I watch big Vic Wanyama every week and he is pure class. Would suit any team and especially Arsenal down to a tee. 15 million and it would be a steal and that, trust me. This lad can reach the top.
kev88
21 Jan 2013 23:01:02
I check all football results and I'm always wondering who's scored for the team in play, whenever I see Napoli 1-0 13" gone the next page loads and boooom it's cavani, I mean its simple buy the bloke who scores goals before someone else gets him, if he continues to score his value won't change a lot will it, unless wenger ruins him, splas the cash to get the goals, I'd also like to mention a player that's young and scores goals every week, Charlie Austin of burley, he's 24 would cost 5 million at most surely that's worth a gamble, even if he don't cut it you won't lose money on him, look at Adam le fondre?hes got as many goals as giroud in the league and he cost 1 million I think.
Wolvo gooner
Tbh I wouldn't mind a gamble on charlie austin. £5m you don't have a lot to lose.
However cavani would cost £50m
21 Jan 2013 22:51:57
So another training session has gone by, and Per Mertesacker, is still working out his left foot from his right, Diaby is reading the "how to stay fit for longer than 3 weeks handheld", and Arsene is helping him out on the long words and recommends Rosicky and Gibbs are next to read it, while Giroud is still trying to dribble past the perpendicular allinged cones WITH THE BALL, meanwhile Walcott is still trying to work out how to execute the perfect corner, good luck Theo, you still haven't mastered how to cross after 5 years!! i'm soooo disheartened (hence my name) by the squad I am giving up my time to watch week in week out, how fragile and weak they are, and how they show such a lack of charachter in our big matches... If we don't bring anyone of genuine quality in this transfer window, then I hope we get absolutely abliterated against Bayern Munich at home, to help cement in Wengers weary skull how far apart we are from where we use to be, as I've said before though, AW idea of a big signing is 5 million and a packet of haribo!! Not sure that's going to trigger Cavani's release clause- but Wengers to tight to give up the wine gums aswell
21 Jan 2013 22:50:44
Arsenal are signing nobody during this window aside from some future prospects. The reason? Wenger will be moved to a director of football position and a new manager brought in. The talk around the Emirates is that David Moyes is the preferred candidate and he will direct the transfer targets in the summer. He will have a considerable amount of money to spend and will be tasked with producing a team to compete effectively in all competitions. The panic at the Emirates is that failure to qualify for the Champions League will hinder future signings. However, the board are willing to take that risk and save money now, so that the new manager will not face any financial limits to rebuilding the squad. This I believe is more than rumour and has been the topic of conversation in known Arsenal pubs this evening with many 'faces' who are usually first to know about important events at AFC. I think you can bank on this one!
21 Jan 2013 22:39:48
Probably going to loads of disagrees for this post, but here goes.....
First of Ramsey needs to go out on loan, play more frequently and get some confidence back
Sagna needs to be sold, he is a shadow of the player we signed
We need to ditch this 4-2-3-1 system, it aren't working, going back to a 4-4-2, or even a 4-4-2 would benefit this team massively, Walcott is going to win jack in the air and Giroud simply hasn't got the legs to be a lone front man, we need to shore up the defensive side of our play, we have the creative side sorted, just need a clinical finisher, a commanding cb, and a dm imo.
Get rid of this crap zonal marking marking would be a huge boost as well
Arshavin can offer glimpses of brilliance but is too few and far between, Coquelin, for all of his enthusiasm is still short of match experience. Jenkinson needs new competition for rb as Sagna is not performing, maybe a bid for Mignolet to shake Shezza into performing regulary wouldn't hurt either,
Most important is fluidity we need to be more decisive with our passing, move quicker, our movement recently has been shocking, we need to be more positive with our passing, stop this passing back when there is someone clearly available,
We need a full change of tide in this, we do have the players, we just need a little added input into the first team to make us challenge again
N. Wales Gunner
21 Jan 2013 15:52:21
Ed027, over this month you have said that Lopez is the most likely signing for Arsenal (if we get any). All is quiet with him in the media. Do you still think he is our best chance at a signing?
Thanks {Ed027's Note - i think he's our best chance of attacking signing, we could make moves defensively first, which i hope we do
21 Jan 2013 22:29:26
the player that I would dream that AW would sign this window is David Villa. Brilliant player and reports saying that he has had a meeting with the club asking to leave... well worth a bid
3434
21 Jan 2013 22:28:09
Hey ED's great job on the site,
not a rumour per se but do you see Wenger leaving at the end of the season and who would be potential replacements?
any other opinions would be welcome, thanks :D
Smiffey93 {Ed027's Note - thanks mate, i see him leaving in 2014 when his contact ends, i would'nt like to guess, i'd expect a suprise for sure
Ed027, can you close off your comments with a "}" please :).
Otherwise it seems like you stopped in mid-sentence. It's distracting, it is.
Ash {Ed027's Note - haha ok}
21 Jan 2013 22:13:47
If coquelin is going out on loan he must be signing wanyama, m vila or diame hopefully wanyama.
Wanyama jak santi in middle an a world class striker villa llorente lewendoski cavani higuien an take mbiwa to play centre half with verm5 spend 40 million on three players that should scare spurs an the rest then get a couple of more players in the summer keeper rb then let's start win trophies again an reward all of us who pay are hard earned wages to watch are team come on wenger get these players an if we don't get top 4 with these signings then atleast you gave it a go an tried to get there at the minute arsene your not helping your self if you have a team like this trophies will come our way
Shez
Sagna. Verm5. Mbiwa. Gibbs
Wanyama. Wilshere
Corzola
Walcott. Podolski
Villa.
This team will win a lot of football matches come on wenger
21 Jan 2013 21:55:44
Luke shaw looks amazing... I wish wenger would buy him. He could play in front of gibbs or gibbs in front of shaw also.
21 Jan 2013 13:18:36
Hey Edd,
I think I already know the answer to this question but there's no harm in asking..
The reports are saying Villa wants out of Barca this month. There is no quotes from Villa and in all honestly even if he is a world beater he is 31 and would only be a short term fix but do you know if there is any truth in this?
Also can you confirm if arsenal do have any interest in Higuian(cant spell)?
Cheers,
Scottish Gunner {Ed027's Note - he wants game, but he isn't the the type of guy who will force his way out, we are intrested but we will talk when both parties agree to the move. Shame we never did the same with Cesc, nothing on Higuain
21 Jan 2013 21:39:24
I have to say I think the decision has already been taken to make this Wengers last season at the club and as such there won't be massive spending in this window. He made some comments last year about how PSG should be a super power in football given there base and resources and this was before the take over, and his desire to play a part in it. So I feel possibly that he will try his best to achieve CL football this season then walk away.
I for one will will gladly applaud him and wish him all the best, he has changed our club and set new levels most people didn't think possible. I feel next season will be a new Arsenal team under new management. I only hope the board gets there act together and decides to put some focus on the playing side and give the new manager the chance.
Holmesy
21 Jan 2013 20:39:45
Ed001, you keep on mentioning that something big is on the cards this summer. Can you give us your rationale and thoughts as to what might happen.
Cheers,
Mr Salmon
Hey there, there is a good summary on the other page but you have Togo into he replies (over 10 when I wrote this).
Hackney Gooner
21 Jan 2013 20:33:53
Something appears to be happening at arsenal and I don't think any fans are aware I have asneaking suspicion that wenger maybe leaving in the summer and maybe there is going to be changes at the top.
who knows just wish we would sign someone,
ty.1
21 Jan 2013 20:25:40
No new players in and nor will. As usual we have been tricked by the board to keep paying the ridiculous prices of a ticket for the emirates.
I'm very disapointed
MX Gooner
Id wait until the 31st keep the faith
21 Jan 2013 20:04:23
hey eds. I noticed sudden gloom in the tone of Ed002's responses to people's posts.
it felt to me that its either
1) ed got fed up with reoccuring posts on the same topic and/or abuse from frustrated gooners
or
2) he got cut from his information source (fired?)
1) would be fulls understandable... I can see how all the abuse would upset a person of good will
2) would be a shame as I consider ed002 to be a sensible source of information presented in a sensible way
anyway, be sure that not all the readers/posters are as ungrateful and disrespectful as it might seem
coyg
asyd {Ed001's Note - difficult for Ed002 to get fired, certainly the ridiculous abuse given for saying Goetze isn't coming was enough to spoil any one's mood.}
22 Jan 2013 06:15:22
But Goetze isn't coming {Ed001's Note - I know, but some people seem to have difficulty dealing with the real world.}
By fired I didn't mean fired from this site, but from whatever position he was involved in that actually got him the insider info in the first place
basically I was making a wild guess whether he could perhaps have been taking flak for the recent leak of "confidential photos"
nevermind, guess i'm just a bit more on the conspiracy side
asyd {Ed001's Note - I know mate, he couldn't get fired from his real job is what I meant. It is Ed033 and myself who started the sites, so it would be possible for Ed002 to just stop editing or be stopped from editing. In the real world, so to speak, Ed002 is not really in any position to be fired though.}
Ok...thanks for the answer.
cheers
asyd
21 Jan 2013 19:48:13
its weird arsenal have been at mbiwa recent games but yet have not bidded for the player make no sense
We are scouting players for other clubs like spuds and newcastle ...
21 Jan 2013 19:38:30
I'm abit worried about any transfers comin in keep bein linked with plays that Newcastle are after an all the big names are not available the only one is llorente but he looks like going to juve not sure what we are going to do he keeps saying we will do business if the right player is avalible carnt think who is no player with contracts running out in the summer we only do that so I'm a very worried gooner
21 Jan 2013 19:36:27
anyone remember the days when we used to win the big matches regularly now we don't even compete and as much as I love the effort displayed by giroud he is simply not good enough for a top club in fact he is no better than bendtner the time for change at board and managerial level has sadly long passed.....brum gooner
He's better than Bendtner, but I agree in some ways with what your saying, Giroud is the kinda player I would expect on the bench rather than Chamakh etc
1404
21 Jan 2013 19:27:02
Hi ed, arsenal once again press the self destruct button on the big stage. The character and personality of these players must be brought in to question. {Ed001's Note - it does seem like there is absolutely no fire in their bellies at all. Only Wilshere seems to be up for any kind of battle, he is hardly going to outmuscle teams on his own.}
21 Jan 2013 19:14:19
Anyone else think jenkinson was doing great bombing up and down the wings at the start of the season when sagna was still injured, not just thinking it over yesterdays performance, I think he gets well more high and low crosses in and if we're starting giroud isn't that what we should be doing.
Eyeball
It's too easy to say that Eyeball.
We were slow, unimaginative and quite lucky for the first six games of the season without sagna, only the liverpool win was a good result, it is not just about jenks, it is the way we are playing together, doesn't seem to make a difference who is playing.
we were crying out for Bac and TV5 to come back from injuries at the start of the season. Gibbs and Kos have made worst mistakes this year, as well as Merti and TV5. some people have such short memories
21 Jan 2013 19:07:48
players linked with and didn't get...
mata.....big miss
hazard...big miss
marvin martin....not so botherd
mvila...wont come
holtby...gone spuds...not bothered
parker....big miss
gary cahill....i can't believe how good he actually is.
to name a few.
wolvo gooner
Mata big miss
hazard will se but 32 mil for him... not worthed
mvila not good enough
holtby not good enough
parker small miss
gary cahil flop
With the exception of Mata, didn't want any of them
Linked maybe. But how many were/are we actually in for?
Paul - Rochester
21 Jan 2013 18:35:46
So we are only willing to sign top quality players, for example Cavani, which are players we can't afford.
Mbwia
Belhanda
Remy
Demba Ba
Wesley Sniejder
Llorente
Zaha
Mvila
So none of those players are good enough... but are affordable.
So where exactly does this leaves us....
NO INCOMING PLAYERS!
21 Jan 2013 18:31:30
When does the conrtacts run out for all our useless players everyone knows who they are
21 Jan 2013 18:29:14
Their is no chance of afc signing cavani Hummels Gortze or any other high profile player in the jan window. It just isn't a winger thing I wold expect a premier league player to join as they can go straight into the team...... Maybe Fellani or even cabaye.
I have this theory wenger is of in the summer and the board are reluctant to spend as the new manager needs funds, just a theory.
Eds thoughts ? {Ed001's Note - there is certainly something major afoot. That is the obvious thing, to move Wenger on, before he loses the fans.}
Ed is there something you have got a sniff of that we haven't?
Metal Gooner {Ed001's Note - it is hard to say, but there does seem to be something going on, two people, who are in a position to know, have both told me there will be a major change at Arsenal in the coming months. Nothing more would either give, I don't want to upset them by pushing them, hopefully they will reveal more when they can.}
Cheers Ed
Metal Gooner {Ed001's Note - if I do get any more hints or news on it I will make sure to post them up.}
21 Jan 2013 18:24:58
Sorry but WENGER has to go we having our worst season ever in the premier league any other in the premier would have been sacked by now so why not him dragging our team backwards
The board is so tight they won't sack him because they won't pay up his contract. Highest paid manager with Mancini in prem.
21 Jan 2013 18:06:02
I would love it if AW was just pondering away on the internet today, (after a hard core 60 minute training session to get Per Mertesacker up to jogging speed) and saw this website, and realised how every (honest) arsenal fan feels about his set of current players, his wrong tactics and his cup crushing philosphy, and I hope it would be able to trigger the tinyest of brain waves in his stubborn skull, and for him to think.... mmmm, yep I have defo screwed this team up!! No wrorries Arsene, I have the solution
1)Go back to 442 tactic, the only reason why we went to the 3 midfielders tactic, was to try and dominate midfield posesstion-erm... WE STILL DONT! The only way we are going to finish 4th is to abandon possetion football and just go proper direct
2) Spend about 60 mill on 3 great players (strong reliable defender- Hummels, Amazing 30+ goals a season striker- Cavanni, and amazing defensive mifielder-Capoue, and obviously a Skelenburg or Gotze would not go a miss either)
3) Tell walcott that to be on 100k a week is to be a pretty good player, which he evidently is not at the moment, can he go round a player like lennon, can he finish reliably like Henry, can he hold up the ball, or play a 30 yard through pass or track back to help the team... NO! All he can do is be obsessed with money and sound like a ponce in interveiws!
4)Get rid of Santos, arshavin, squillaci... just the fact that we are paying them between 50-75k a week indervisually, to not even make it on the bench makes me sick! i'm just fed up of Arsene in an interveiw after another loss #french acsent...."errrr.... well...errrr I believe in my players, errrrr.. we have quality... we showed spirit errr...." SHUT UP!! his excuse 5 years ago was that we were a young developing squad, what now that we have squilacci-31, rosicky-32, sagna-29, santos-29, carzola-27-8, arshavin- 31.... and many players in an experinced age bracket, he can't quite use that excuse now, hence the new excuse of.... "err.... we are too timid and have a phycolgical problem", i'm telling you, if we don't do something soon then we will go exactly the same way as liverpool have done in the last 3 years!
Why is this hate for Theo? Who scored yesterday in a game where we were horrible? Who is our top scorer this year? Who finished as our 2nd highest scorer behind RVP last year? Oh yeah, it's Theo.
People need to realise without Theo we would be way down the table. He is our best attacker. Giroud will not score as many as Theo does and he is supposed to be our main goal threat. Theo scares defences, Giroud does not. Support the boy as he is here for a few years yet!
Chess
Haha I actually really enjoyed this!
Metal Gooner
Why thankyou metal gooner for liking my post lol, and as for chess, stop being such a suck up, it doesn't take 5 months to agree a contract if he loves the club, and wasnt intersted in money, he is does not deserve to be our top paid player, he is too easily pushed off the ball, and as I say, aren't the best of dribblers, Henry managed to use his pace on the ball, Walcott can only run without the ball, and why the hell is he taking our corners, every single one he took at chelsea was so easily caught by cech, but you see Theo doesn't care, I bet he was just saying to himself "ooo 10k cross, another 10k cross, ooo 5k tumble, well what do you expect AW if you gave me 150k a week I might try a bit better" i'm telling you we should not have wasted this transfer window on sorting his contract out, but sighning a great player
I am not saying I agreed with it all but I certainly enjoyed the sense of borderline madness and actually most of what you say I think is bang on.
Metal Gooner
21 Jan 2013 18:05:42
Looking at the first goal yesterday, anyone else think Szcz could have come out and got to the ball before Mata?
I know for sure that LLoris would have come out and caught it.
Missed out big time there.
JW
Shezz has been pretty average at best this season and the arse-end of last, there have been too many occasions where i've thought, "maybe he could've done better", and yesterday was definatley one of those occasions - a better goalkeeper would've dealt with that.
I think the problem is he's 21 years old, is the No 1 and has no experienced gk to learn from - Fabianski has been a no.2 keeper his whole damn career, what is he going to teach anyone?
If there was a player like Victor Valdes there (who incidently has just said he would like to experience other leagues/cultures and won't sign a new deal with Barca)
then he would be perfect to learn from for the next 4-5 years, by which time there would be a more natural progression for Shezz to be no.1
AG
You're 100% right he is not quick on his feet and low on confidense
If he actually had any defenders who could defend in front of him perhaps he would look better.
21 Jan 2013 18:01:58
Times are hard for all of us financially at the moment. Got a payday loan and couldn't pay on the agreed date. Next thing I know Per Mertesacker was knocking at the door. What the f##k!
Flybo ;-)
21 Jan 2013 17:47:53
No panic buying please AW, we need quality not quantity. Rotate the squad then make proper decisions in summer. Bring in the reserves, you may find some of them are actually good and better than some of the players we have been linked to. Realistically, we have nothing to play for now, why not take this opportunity to weigh every player and see if they are worth keeping. At the end of the season either loan, sale or buy out the contracts of those players you don't need. It's better to pay some of these players to go than to keep them and not get anything from them, the difference is zero.
MOFAYA
21 Jan 2013 17:37:57
These are really just rough no.s and geustimations but i'm sure it wouldn't be too far off.
Wenger has spent a serious amount on rubbish players
Gervinho
Giroud (Not scoring 20 a season like we need, shouldn't be buying players that need time to adjust, we need impact!)
Squid
Arshavin (Call it 7.5mil because we got a couple of seasons out of him)
Santos (Oh GOD!)
Chamakh(Signing bonus)
Bendtner(Cheap at young age but added for wage)
Park(Did he even get a game?
about 52million including signing on fees.
With all of them on the Roster at the one time your talking 21mil a season on wage (Everyone at a rate of 50k p/w)
Then factor in the likes of Diaby, and Rosicky who have spent the greatest part of their careers not playing! Another 5mil a year wage
And Denilson who's been on loan forever, who I assume we're paying half the wage, 2.6mil a year
All equates to a lot of money for very little talent! And this man is an economist? A financial guru?
I'm not saying Wenger out, but maybe bring back the old Wenger and his super buys!
Granted Pod and Santi, possibly Ox were gud deals, But no Henry, Veira, Petite, Anelka, Cesc, Nasri, Campbell, Toure, Pires, Ljunberg etc. etc.
Sheeny
Squid was 4mil, santos was 6, and chamack was free
Is that you call serious money...
BGGOONER
And how would we know if a player need time to adapt or not?
Based on your logic we shouldn't buy henry?
Apologies i'm talking euro's
And yes Squid at 4m is major money wasted as is Santos
Sheeny
Since when is a million pocket change?
21 Jan 2013 17:36:42
So we need a CDM to support Diaby(34 injuries in 7 years) and we need a goal scorer but do you think we will buy or loan? Prior to yesterday we were buying now it will be Villa on a loan and Gourcuff loan both these rumours may be attributed to the French news and French press.
I can't understand Gourcuff on loan - Lyon need to sell players not loan them I thought.
21 Jan 2013 17:31:13
Been doing a bit of digging - and while a hunch more than anything - I think Stevan Jovetic may be our big January signing. Fiorentina have just signed two forwards in this window, including G Rossi who is a very similar player to Jovetic.
Pacman
21 Jan 2013 17:30:58
Is it just me or should be just get rid of AW and get a manager who knows what he is doing in the transfers!?
There is so much wrong with this post...
It's just you and anyone else that doesn't realise what he's done for this club. Yes the last few seasons we are going backwards, but Arsenal owe everything to him, so he should never be sacked.
May be we could get Benitez to spend 100+mil(with Liverpool 2009) to be second or Kenny Dalglish to spen 100mil to be 8th...
21 Jan 2013 17:15:13
Watch the highlights again - Sagna's fault. Coquelin was fouled but that's not the point - Sagna was defending like Santos and jogging back, he watched Mata getting into our box and then it was too late. Pathetic defending.
21 Jan 2013 17:12:42
I see we`ve been linked with Hummels today, someone I jokingly suggested would help shore up our defence about week ago...I said it in jest but hey, it wouldn't hurt would it.
Tbh tho, we don't urgently need a centre half, we need 1 maybe 2 defensive midfielders to protect the defence. i'd previously have said 2 but seeing Coquelin slide around last yesterday against CFC, I think he could one day be the real deal. He needs help tho otherwise whoever plays in defence will be endlessly exposed when the opposition has the ball. When this happens, we have 4 defenders atm and 6 forward thinking players, none of the midfield stick their foot in enough, Wilshire being the only exception.
I`d take Hummels, he's world class but what we need is to pick up a Coupe, Diame etc and play them in front of Hummels/TV5 and then we`ll see a defensive improvement.
/Son1ka
I've got a coupe, BMW 330ci, thinking of changing it if you want it?
Hummels won't join us, Wenger andthe Boardhave turnedArsenalinto a joke, IFwedont siggn anyone, WENGER has to go.END OF
AndyS
21 Jan 2013 16:37:34
if it aren't about money at arsenal why didn't wenger get one of welbeck, berbatov or hernandez and cash in the rvp deal I reckon all were potentially avaliable...to be perfectly honest I feel any of those are an upgrade on giroud atm...specially in his first season in the premier league....
sadly but at arsenal the motto is if it don't make dollers in don't make sense....
k cider
Could not agree more ridiculous to give away the best striker in the world and not even negotiate for Welbeck we will lose 24 million when we finish 8th
21 Jan 2013 16:20:19
I would like to see players rested against Brighton, so we should play: Jenkinson, Koscielny, Santos, Ramsey, Oxlade, Arshavin & Frimpong. What has happened to Rosicky, it is proving a poor decision to extend his deal. We have a relatively small squad, with a large amount of unsaleable players on loan, players out of favour & two or three injuries.
What happened to Rosicky, the same thing that has been happening for 4 years.
He sneezed and borke his fibula.
21 Jan 2013 16:06:26
if we are to sign a forward for me it's keisuke honda. we already have three strikers in podolski, giroud and walcott. honda can play am or on either wing and can also cover many more positions like cm. ed do you know if he's likely to move during this january?
iceman
21 Jan 2013 16:04:36
What has always bewildered me is the fact that Arsene Wenger never sees to alter his formation nor his team selection for any match. This in turn results in players becoming tired for the following matches as they are never properly rested. For example if you look at Manchester United, Sir Alex is always changing his formation depending on the opposition but also because it makes it more difficult for teams to plan their game against you as you could play, one of many game plans. On top of this it always provides the option to respond and diversify your plan during a match if its not going your way. Arsenal always play the same way with the same formation, unless for the last few minutes we stick Per Mertescaker up pitch to grab a goal with his 6-6" frame, yet he never seems to jump when challenging for the ball in the air. United against spurs reverted to a 4-3-3 with the likes of Rooney, young, valencia, Nani, Hernandez, Scholes and Evans to a certain degree, in the starting line up. Now think for a second, could you imagine arsenal ever doing that in a tough away game like that......well the answer is NO! Once again think is it actually even possible for arsenal to do that.......unsurprisingly the answer is NO once more. This all comes down to Wengers stubborn attitude but even more worryingly is are squads strength in depth. Although our current squad does contain class players and amazing potential, we lack the needed quality squad depth to challenge for major honour's. As a result we our in dire need of some reinforcements this january to help achieve 4th place and then again in the summer so we can push on next season.
You're spot on. Wenger's tactical stubborness and insistence on playing his tippy-tappy Wengerball using muppets like Diaby is the reason why other sides know exactly how to set up to cause us problems. It's all very well playing the same way week in week out if you're Barcelona and very few sides can live with you, but the current Arsenal side is full of mediocre and spineless individuals who don't care about the shirt and simply aren't capable of playing the football Wenger wants. However, these are HIS proteges which just shows how much he has lost the plot in recent years.
We don't have the quality of Barcelona and Barcelona don't have the intense opposition we do so I certainly think we should be open to formation changes.
21 Jan 2013 16:03:00
You are obviously a great manager- so if we could buy messi, yayatoure, a 23 yr old Vierra and cesc fabregas along with vidic we might be a slightly better team!
How amazing
NO weWouldnt, Wenger wouldstill be in charge
AndyS
21 Jan 2013 15:57:53
we need badly a physical beast now. need one in midfield and one in defence. there's a bunch of players available so aw can't use it as an excuse. let's see what happens. yanga-mbiwa is there for the taking, so is m'vila. and we could try our luck with wanyama as well. we have loaned our 4th cb out so that means we have 3 good enough cb's. that's not enough for the rest of the season. if we don't sign anyone it's madness because we could have kept djorou then.
out of the 3 mentioned I like yanga-mbiwa the most. he covers cb, rb and dm and he's actually good in all these roles, not just capable of doing a job everywhere (you know what I mean). I wouldn't mind m'vila either because attitude problems aside, he's a good player after all. calm passer and a good strong tackler. tailor-made for our midfield. haven't seen much of wanyama so can't comment.
iceman
21 Jan 2013 19:10:43
Suggest you get a glimpse of Wanyama - composed with the ball and an absolute beast competing for it.
21 Jan 2013 15:55:29
RVP had been preparing to leave and go to MU for a few years- whatever Arsenal did he was going to leave- he feels his chance to get the ballon d'or is substantially higher up there!
Personally I think he should get 'les ballons kicked in'
yorky gooner
We showed no ambition for the last 4 years so I don't blame him buy some decent palyers win a few trophies and maybe he would have stayed.
21 Jan 2013 15:46:22
I wonder what Sczczny was still doing on the pitch after that foul on Ramires! Typical of what he did in the Euros...
He didn't catch him, it was a dive as can be clearly seen on TV.... yes hard to see in real time but Sczceny did nothing wrong
21 Jan 2013 15:34:21
wenger should go for players who were born with football in their blood than these who learnt the game after seeng no way through to life destination.what is diaby, arshavin, sagna, santos, doing at asrsenal?offload the baddened heads and replace them with yanga mpiwa, m'carthy, look shaw, zaha, bigilia and lopez.don't fine players when you are not fined.the arsenal money is a team money not wenger money.buy a new jacket with a good zip and stop drama play.take only when you are thirsty not when you are scored.make substitution in early minutes than when your opponents are defending.stop your talks sir.thanks
What on earth is that load of crap ?
Replace reality with rumours?
Dont fine players when you are not fined...so who was fined
Just have to comment when someone is saying that Diaby is not good enough for Arsenal. You really must be talking of some other Diaby than the one that is currently playing for Arsenal or you are seriously misstaking. Dissagree to the largest extent possible. Injury prone yes. Bad player? You are just so wrong.
/The Swede
21 Jan 2013 21:37:15
arsenal get another defensive midfielder, diaby will be on the bench, sorry but a player that's only played a few games can't be called an excellent player..coz how does anyone no if he's good or bad ..and when he plays he gives the ball away more than anyother player on the pitch (fact) ..arteta playing in same postion all season has passed the ball more than only 1 other player in the premier league,,,, everyone is wound up at the moment and chelsea ripped us apart in mid with a 34 year old a 3 5ft players ,,, not good enough
21 Jan 2013 15:24:45
I am told Arsenal have lodged several bids within the last week.
We made a bid on someone in Germany. This is the £30m bid everyone keeps referring to. I don't know who but I know there is still interest in both Scweinsteiger and Götze.
We have made bids for three French based players.
Éric Bauthéac
Gianelli Imbula
Another, believed to be Bruno Ecuele Manga
Interest remains in Will Hughes, Zaha and Wanyama.
AFC-Noel
Big whoop! More ballast from the murkiest corners of the French league. Wenger is spectacularly one-eyed in limiting himself to unproven, bargain basement dross from across the Channel and it shows how far he has fallen. Where once he acquired French players like Vieira, Petit, Anelka, Henry & Pires, he now gets Squillaci, Koscielny and Giroud. Whether you think these players are any good or not, they're nowhere the same class.
21 Jan 2013 15:08:38
What does everyone think about being linked to Victor Wanyama?
21 Jan 2013 14:15:03
The daily mail is reporting that Villa has demanded a transfer this window as he is upset with his lack of involvement.
If this is the case I think he's a more than viable option to get us out of a rut. We need a finisher and he's one of the most clinical to have ever played.
At 31 he's perhaps not the long term solution, but for the present moment, he would be an ideal signing.
21 Jan 2013 14:11:07
Just want to put my two bobs worth in about yesterday and the never ending saga of purchases.
On yesterdays second half performance the proof was there that we are a match if not better than Chelsea for start. Now I'm sure that Arsene gave them a rocket for the first half display (and Bould I'm sure) so to me that shows that AW does know what he is about. MoD summed up our season so far by showing what we were not doing in the first half and how we changed in the second. There seems to be a mental block with some if not most of our players until someone lights the rocket up their Arses. MoD showed poor Jack chasing down the ball then turning with his arms outstretched wondering where the rest of the team were. That's what we have to change about our displays. When we haven't got it go get it and when we have move move and move some more.
All this talk about buy A or buy be gets on my nerves. The team can be good enough if only they turn up for the first half of games. Not saying that we shouldn't buy, but it's not the be all and end all. i'm sure we will get the right player / players as and when. All this moaning about us not getting cavani, falcao for instance...... No one has got them as of yet so what's the problem. Chill.
I thought Giroud was great yesterday, he won most of his headers was battling for everything, had a couple of half chances, he don't give up. (I remember us buying a certain M.MacDonald in the mid seventies and that didn't help us much....we even lost our opening home game 1-0 to Bristol City on his debut). So yes if the chance comes for anyone great, but let's also give the players we've got a chance and not get pissed off 'cause we haven't done this or that in the transfer market.
I agree with a few posts, that Sagna needs to be rested. He really does seem to be lacking in pace at the moment and as mentioned crossing is rubbish. Ramsey certainly looks better when in the middle. Le Coq I thought was having a good game and again given time he and diaby could forge a good partnership?
As always lots of ifs and buts, (and here's another) but going back to the second half yesterday, we do have a good team that is just lacking in a little self belief. Let's not help feed that negativity. We have a fairly nice run in of games only Spuds away ManU liverpool, Everton at home as the big ones. Great cup games coming up, so far no-one has won a thing and the first cup contested could be between Swansea and Bradford. Funny old game football.
Estepona gooner
I agree with most of what you said. The one thing I disagree with is Giroud I don't think he is good enough for Arsenal, if we had a world class striker yesterday we would have been 1 up early on then it would have been a different match which I believe we would have won.
Limerick Gunner
We have the mighty wally walcott, hmmmm, world class striker? lol, yeah sure.
21 Jan 2013 14:05:59
Have seen lots of posts claiming that Podolski is our best finisher etc.......
Answer me this, how many of you have seen him play up front as a main striker?
If he is that good in that position, why is he not being at least tried there?
The same reason it has taken Walcott so long to get a chance there. Wengers stubbornness
Because wenger is a person! He put gervinho up top explains it all really!
-Homesick-
Because wenger does not like change...
And he can only play him there if we play 442 as a lone striker he will be outmuscled and not get into the game.
Shaneyd
Dear oh dear. I have. Although, he rarely if ever gets played on his own, he is usually the left striker in a 442.
We don't play that formation for a start. Secondly, he has loads of experience playing wide left especially for Germany as they have even better strikers up front. It's also the position RVP sometimes gets played for Holland.
The answer is this - we have no idea why, it's driving us all nuts, we all want to see him up top, preferably alongside Giroud or Walcott.
All his goals have come from close range in the box which says it all.
Another reason is we don't have a good left winger. Well, Wenger doesn't think so. He'd rather have the Ox on the bench and play 433 than play 442 and have The Ox out left, Podolski and Giroud up top and Theo out wide - but then, that would highlight we have no more strikers, and Wenger wouldn't have that would he.
There's a difference with being a good finisher and a good striker.
21 Jan 2013 12:33:32
Just to inform the Arsenal players that kick off against West ham on Wednesday is at 19.45 not 20.45. Just trying to help them out in my own little way. ;-)
Flybo
Love it Flybo love it
Flybo! ah, your posts are awesome, always makes me hae a smile, thanks!:) COYG, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr lol:)
andi
Fantastic post very amusing and totally on the ball. With this kind of insight we may have the next Arsene.
21 Jan 2013 12:26:42
Sagna needs to be rested in my opinion, the amount of times he's been caught out recently is astonishing for someone rated as one of the best rb in the EPL. His crossing of the ball is shocking, his desire to get back once he's been up field seems to be diminishing, i'd personally give Jenkinson a run in the team, pace, strength, can put a good cross in, everything that Sagna isn't/cant at the moment, get Jenks and the Ox to form a good understanding on the right and with Gibbs and Podolski on the left we would look pretty strong, both wings full of dynamism and work rate to boot..
N. Wales Gunner
The question is rested or dropped? The difference is important. If Wenger decides Sagna needs a rest then he's a pussy - if he drops Sagna coz he's been crap then he's not a pussy. Sagna has been playing like Santos for weeks now.
21 Jan 2013 15:09:41
Jenks should never have been dropped in the 1st place, he was in great form and confident, I hope he comes back in but he'll have to get up to pace again, bad decision by Arsene to put Sagna straight back in if I'm honest.
Jenks didn't deserve that.
Stoner
I fail to understand Wenger's refusal to alternate the squad. We have Jenkinson, Koscielny & Santos who all can come in to allow defenders to rest. In other areas we have options as well. Instead Wenger overplays the same players until they are exhausted or suffer fatigue related injuries. Perhaps this highlights Wenger's failure to have a strong squad, which is confirmed by the fact that if we rest our keeper or any defenders, the replacements simply weaken the team. Take our rivals for 4th spot, the Toot, they have viable options in most positions, without weakening their team. We need a 2nd quality keeper, a 4th centre back, a proper left back, at least one if not two strong defensive midfield players & a prolific striker.
21 Jan 2013 19:16:08
Sanga looks like in his head - he's already left Arsenal.
21 Jan 2013 12:21:19
Within these 10 days we will sign someone.I reckon MBiwa, Wanayma and a youngster. Then next window we will prob make a move for a striker someone like Cavani because his price will go down. Arsenal Fan D
Yea just like van persie who was on the last year of his contract at the age of 29 was worth a cheap amount of 24 mill...so cavani would be cheaper?
wake up you delusional arsenal fan...we are replacing superstars with the likes of chamakh and giroud.
21 Jan 2013 16:31:57
Nailed it.
21 Jan 2013 12:13:01
I think the only way our season can be turned around, is to make Jack Wilshire our captain. I know he's young but I believe, he is the one to shout at his players and to drag them forwards. In my eyes, he is the only leader in our team.
Andylat.
He does that anyway, he doesn't need a bit of elasticated material on his arm to do that.
In any case do you think stripping a captain of his duties (verminator) is a wise thing to do mid season? I think not.
It's not the only way.
Flybo
Typical knee jerk reaction that hasn't been thought through.
dave
Unbelievably stupid post! What would that do to TV5, stick to fifa13 doughnut.
21 Jan 2013 11:46:10
Time for change- we can look at certain players performances, tactics, etc, etc but for me its not rocket science.
Over the last, lets say 5 seasons we have seen very good/good players go and decent/average players come in to replace them. We simply don't have the quaility anymore to compete at the top level.
We need a new manager, a different vision/direction-we are stagnate at best, at worst in decline season after season.
Thanks for everything you've done wenger, but time for you to move on.
i am long time season tix holder and I've had enough of my money contributing to the clubs coffers. I know many others who feel the same way as well.
There's gratitude, respect, etc but not blindly to the point where our club is going backwards.
21 Jan 2013 16:28:02
there some disagrees here... can you specificlly point out what you don't agree with?
The poster is correct, as far as I can see. No trophies, best players leaving and not the same calibre or heaven firbid better players being brought in.
What is there to disagree with?? Wenger is responsible for that, he has had his day, we need someone new now. enough is enough.
Think that the disagrees are probably because some people disagree....... ;p
21 Jan 2013 10:38:59
Every day I wake up hoping we may have bought a big signing...it ain't ever going to happen aw well leave the club in summer after he fails 2buy talent and wen I say talent I don't mean a poxy m villa or lopez i'm talkin a falcao, goatze some solid goal machines! He will not by...imagine we had some class around the young lads we got they would become outstanding players!! spend some money wenger we are all sick of this rubbish!!!
Goetze isn't a goal machine he's a midfielder - 19 goals in his career for BVB.
Unbelievable tekkers - your research skills are embarrassing!
He has scored 12 goals and 6 assists in 29 games this season, so he's doing better than most of our strikers actually. Last season he got 8 goals and 8 assists in 28 games.
I could go on but the point is in terms of midfielders he is a goal machine and your stats are wrong whether you think he's a goal machine or not. The 6 agrees are just proof some people are sheep.
Heard he is neither man... nor machine... but a genetically modified cyborg from the footballing future.
Hackney Gooner
21 Jan 2013 10:30:20
reason why wenger to go.
Selling RVP for money.
I strongly believe that RVP would have left but gone to club outside the prem league on a free.
By selling him wenger said we don't want to win trophies here, RVP would at least given us hope for a trophy.
Do you really think RVP would of played for the AFC badge for this season, after publicly declaring he wanted to leave?
Wake up... it was good business, and good money for a player with less than a year on his contract.
He would of still gone to utd this summer on a free anyway.
21 Jan 2013 12:13:09
Why did he want to leave? - because he could see Arsenal were going backwards and that the board would not invest. Fast forward 6 months - RVP has gone and now we're told their is substantial money to spend. Madness!
We would not have needed to invest if he had stayed and fought, please please please get it in to your heads that rvp left for more money. This leaving for trophies c*ap is utter tosh!
Any player who states they left due to lack of ambition is a liar, they were all offered top money to stay and if they had done so we would have a team of world class players.
How can you say it was good business to sell RVP to united ? I would be happier if we had taken £2m less and sold him to juventus . with out him united would be below us in the table
Why did he want to leave you ask, I will tell you.. The 260k weekly had to be responsible for that, the 260k making him the best paid player in the EPL... He became the greediest player ever played in our club with only competion Casley...
BGGOONER
21 Jan 2013 16:47:25
No - the guy had strong ties to Arsenal, 8yrs, club captain, idolised by the fans, etc. However it became clear that the club was going backwards. Off course the MU money helped, but Arsenal could/should have fought tooth and nail to keep him. Saying he's a traitor who only left for the money - makes it easier for you to hate him, but life isn't that simple. P. S. If anyone is worth that kind of money - he is, just ask the mancs.
21 Jan 2013 16:49:49
Sell to Juve and we wouldn't look like a feeder club to our own league.
Your missing the point!
He wanted to go to united, even if Juve had offered more, we can't just pack his bags for him, he has to agree to the move as well.
21 Jan 2013 10:23:16
Here's hoping we can pull a string of results together from here on.
Didn't think much to Chelsea yday - they played okay, but there only real threat came from their counter attacks, of which 2 led to their goals but I felt we really took the game to them and we showed desire and passion. Jack is a legend in the middle of the park bossin the game. Wish diaby and coq would have closed faster in the flat half.
I'm not sure if we need new signings or whether we need to start playing frimpong in the middle to add some steel and grit. He is young but if he can be disciplined he'd offer us what we need.
Love that Giroud and jack give so much every game they play, they work so damn hard. Think theo is a bit of a liability at the moment as he's trying to grow his confidence in front of goal, he seems a bit too lax about his defensive duties which he really did well last season.
Ill leave it there cuz I know how annoying it is reading war and peace on here
EMG
21 jan 2013 10:22:35
i miss yossi!
Why? Even west ham don't want him.
Because he had drive and passion and played for the badge even though he was only on loan.
Yep, last year, when he got the chance he put some proper effort in. pity he didnt/ couldn't stay, least he was giving his best (unlike some the the half assed efforts we have had to endure watching)
anyway. bring on west ham:) andi
21 Jan 2013 10:20:16
First time posting up on here, so I'd just like to share my thoughts. Really love the site and appreciate everyones posts.
Right, so another game we have lost... Why is it that Arsenal always seem to be afraid of playing the bigger teams? Every time we play Man Utd, City, Chelsea and even Liverpool we always seem to shy away from what we are capable of!
Like most people on here I totally agree that the squad lacks depth. There is quality in the side but you look at the bench and its pretty weak.
Unfortunately football has become a very money orientated game and clubs do suffer. However, Arsenal have the highest ticket pricing in the UK and I'm fairly certain there IS money to be spent on players. Why can't the board and Wenger realise that it's time we actually got stuck in knee deep into the transfer market and buy amazing players. Arsenal is a world class football team, and with the style of play that we play we can be the best in the world! But we need those top players to come to Arsenal in order for that to happen!
Ok I have said a lot on my first post, but those of you who took the time to read it, I thank you.
RG
21 Jan 2013 10:11:16
Psychologically Chelsea must be a strange place for the guys to go to.
We sold them Cole.
We negotiated with Bolton for Cahill but ended up not bothering to buy him (p.s. did you know he is paid 80kpw? that's only a couple more than Arshavin - when you look at players in those terms it really highlights how crippling our wage bill is)
We negotiated for Mata but messed it up in the same way we did with Reina - we stalled over something paltry and off he went.
I am sure the Arsenal players would have been over the moon if we'd signed Hazard and brought that talent to the Emirates...but no.
Now they have Ba.
The point is, that side is full of players who have been or should be Arsenal players but aren't for some bizarre reason. I am not saying it should make a difference but I bet it does. You think the entire team aren't aware of how slow Per is? How poor he is in the air? Yet his opposite number is one of the top CBs in the country, great in every aspect of his game, fast, and dangerous on goal. You could play Cahill as a midfielder and he would bag 10 a season easily, don't be fooled by him being a defender. You think the forwards/mids have faith in our defence when they see error-Vermaelen and Per walk out? I doubt it. Or the lack of depth on the bench?
One thing is for certain - football players know their talent and know what they are surrounded with. We might have a lovely midfield but it isn't firing on all cylinders. I wonder what our confidence levels would be like if we had lined up like this, hypothetically:
New GK, Jenko, Cahill, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Wilshere, Mata, Hazard, Cazorla, Theo, Ba.
2 players 2 summers ago, Cahill and Mata, should have been ours. 2 players last summer - Cazorla, New GK, and then Ba this Jan. All of that could have been afforded! Look at that team!!
Hi Ed.... Can you put my Name on this article ? Please ! Spot-on to the above.
The board has been derelict in it's duty to the fans and to the quality of the team. We need strong characters.
Where's the "mental strength " that Wenger always bleats on about. Yes, Mata, Cahill etc. should have been snapped up. I could weep at the dross that Wenger has saddled us with. The British core is a start but a tough leader is required. Jack will be that man in 2-3 years, but we need action now ! George Graham is right. Our transfer policy (surrendering) has eroded the quality of the squad for the last 5 years at least. I fear things aren't going to improve for a few seasons yet. Sorry, but that's how I feel. I sit in the Emirates with a feeling of trepidation.I'm haunted by memories of Highbury ! The Doctor can't help either.
Not to mention the oldest player there is Cazorla..that's how you rebuild a team. 6 players in 18 months, done.
21 Jan 2013 11:07:11
As if we weren't all depressed enough.
Stoner
Well I posted this...
And I clicked agree to your post Stoner haha
So the only midfielder you have that will do any defending is Wilshere - this is not a good use of a star creative player.
that team would get run over by ManU, there is no balance, and cahill is the only defensive change, he is not a miracle player, our defenders are massively overrated and so need protection
21 Jan 2013 10:08:52
I wish Wenger would stop being an obstinate control freak. It dosesnt take a genius to work out that we need an experienced keeper, a tall commanding 4th centre back, a couple of tall powerful strong defensive midfield players & a striker that can finish. Of course we need to abandon his failed formations & revert to 4-4-2. Will this happen, of course not, Wenger is far too stubborn & this season, I can't see us overtaking the Toot.
21 Jan 2013 09:57:47
Wilshere really has been like a new signing for us.
Plays for the badge, Arsenal through and through.
Words can't describe my respect for this player. We are so lucky to have him in the team.
Nick.
He is the difference at the moment. He knows what is required every day on the pitch and he gives it. The number of times I saw him closing down, watching the ball get passed away from him and when he looks round no other players are closing down, and he's yelling at the team waving his arms....true leader.
Metal Gooner
Think TV5 should be moved to DM with Arteta out
21 Jan 2013 08:45:00
I do not even know how Arsene Wenger does it. Can field the same 11 players and they play two different games in the same match. First half we were pathetic. Our defence was so fragile. Our midfield was at sea Strike force non-existent. Second half we played very well. If only we played at that tempo for the whole match we would have won. Arsenal needs to get an attacking midfielder who can play the through ball. We are tired of this shoe-shine football. Did you see how many times Ramirez and Mata were able to keep playing Torres in? True, Torres is a spent force, but he made two or three good runs at our defence. We have the fastest striker in world football for Pete's sake. We need to play through balls in counter attack. Counter attack football is what made Arsenal so good back then. Since no more money to be thrown around this season maybe try this:
1. revert to 4-4-2
2. Podolski to play just in front of Theo Walcot and provide killer through balls for his pace
3. Abandon wing play, it's not working for us.
4. Teach the boys how to dribble for Pete's sake. The only people who can dribble in our team are Santi Carzola, Diaby and Gibbs. Everyone else cannot pass the defender. that's why we end up playing so many back passes and side passes coz we run out of options
5. Playing two Holding midfielders works well for us I think. Once Arteta is back, he and Diaby can cover the defence while Jack and Santi can create chances for Walcot and Podolski.
6. Give the youngsters a chance. i.e. Gnabry and Eisfield. You can never know. The likes of Ronaldo(brazilian one) were that young when they started shouldering responsibility for their teams
This is just survival until the end of the season and pray that we get into the top four.
I just hope we can at least buy one centreback with good height and good pace.
In Arsene I think I trust :-)
Rue1025
Wilshere can dribble
4. How could you forget Wilshere?
Nick.
Point 4 - you missed out Vermaelen, Koscielny, Jack, Rosicky, and the Ox. The problem there of course is that 2 of them are defenders, one doesn't get games, and one has been poor when he's been given a chance. The other one is Jack.
21 Jan 2013 17:39:39
Diaby can dribble than loses it 80% of the time ..get your facts right, yesterday lost the ball middle of the pitch and chelsea scored, that shouldn't be happening with a so called powerhouse, more like a glasshouse i'm afraid
21 Jan 2013 08:43:55
Well 10 days until the transfer window closes, and the only news soo far is that we have been linked with superstars that wenger just can't live with making a bid on. 30 mill? he would rather sell his kidneys and his only daughter.
I watched 20 mins of the game yesterday and not that I didn't care to support my team, but i'd rather go out and enjoy my sunday, as I already knew the best result we could muster would be a draw, and although that is a consolation for many, I do not accept defeat or lack of desire in playing then what I witnessed in 20 mins.
from the start of the season while everyone raved how good cazorla is to cesc, or how poldi's left foot would leave defenders terrified, or how gervinho would trick his way past multiple defenders, or the great defenders we have and the midfield we comprise of currently...none of them are good enough.
Watch barcelona, bayern, madrid, city, dortmund, juventus, napoli...these are teams I follow...not that they always win, but the players show up...and put up a fight...especially in the big games...all we do in the big games is roll over and die.
Also watching those teams, you understand the talent we have at the emirates is far negligible...jack is great...love the lad...but he is nowhere near world class...its only that he is playing with scrubs that he looks world class...he will be one day but right now the team is utter tosh.
Cazorla....look up his stats for the big games and compare him to cesc...and then try calling him the next fab.
our entire frontline with thierry walcott has misfired more than we have in the past 14 years...look up the stats...also walcott looks good because the others are really bad...i give him credit for his finishing...but he just cannot make space on his own...he has to run into the space.
The english core is fine, the wages are fine, but not buying when you know we have a team unworthy of not only not contending for the title but unworthy to make the top 4 and we still stand pat, just because we don't want to spend 5 mill or whatever?
why did we not bid for vertonghen? why did we not try and get mata? why did we not do trades to improve the team and keep persie?
I don't believe for a min that our team is better than the teams above us, for those who do, it is great that you have belief in wenger and all that jazz, I like to keep it real and I will be that way.
try not to pull your hair out end of season or when your mates start taunting you for your crazy support in denial....i will walk it off into the sunset...rather pretend this year never happened and enjoy it, instead or pandering and panicking about a team which is just put out to pickpocket fans.
well done Arsenal...well done wenger...lets see how many players come to us when we don't have a top4 spot and we are lacking in sponser payments for missing out the top4. can't wait for another summer of scrubs to come in.
Lakerville
21 Jan 2013 07:49:43
Source: Local Priest
Arsene has put a bid in for Prayer but doesn't know if that will be enough to save the season
Vermaelen used to work on the docks...
21 Jan 2013 01:23:26
mata, harzard, cahil, Ba! just a few players we could have signed and that could have beeing playing for me beloved ars!! but hay non of these players would improve our squad!!
brum gun!
21 Jan 2013 01:10:58
Not really sure why everyone is having such a go at the team/Wenger after today's match. In general we played pretty well: and if it hadn't been for a nasty tackle and then a dive from Ramires, things would've been different. Can't believe Sky gave him the man of the match award after that. It's a joke.
Macc Gooner
U are the joke. Great players do anything to win a match and play only to the whistle. you would be happy if it had gone our way.
21 Jan 2013 01:05:17
The only reason arsene keeps telling his players to "believe" and have "belief" is because he knows they aren't good enough to compete, so fills them with his "spirited"team talks.
It's all tripe, he knows deep down their not good enough!
Also his fault(IMO) except jack.
Wolvo gooner.
Yes, I wonder why wenger buy cazorla. He is good but nothing to compare with hazard or mata. If only we but one of them instead of cazorla.
Don't talk nonsense. Cazorla is brilliant.
Nick.
Cazorla is superb, but only when he giving it everything. He had not been doing that for a month or two, but against Swansea and Chelsea second half we saw the version of Cazorla who joined us in the summer, not the tired, bummed out, slightly headless Cazorla of recent months.
Back on form :), and when he is, he's as good as Hazard and Mata, they're just more consistent.
Metal Gooner
21 Jan 2013 12:21:33
Surely if they are more consistent - they're better!.
21 Jan 2013 18:03:58
hazard 30 million ? ..has done nothing to show he's worth that much
Nah course not, just rapes every full back in the league, watch motd you'll see. Wolvo gooner
22 Jan 2013 01:23:25
it'll be heartbreaking if Spurs finishes above us and secondly if we miss out on the Champions League.
Aj
21 Jan 2013 00:20:52
If we win the FA cup and make CL this season, signed some quality this summer and then pushed on for the title next season...
I'd be pretty damn happy.
Nick.
Sadly, if the first two happen the third wont.
It will require us having a poor season for the money to be spent, remember at the AGM it was said that 4th place was considered a trophy- so FA Cup and 4th place = no players coming in.
Paul
21 Jan 2013 08:11:59
I love your optimism Nick - but it's not realistic. With few exceptions - the current squad is average at best, and lacks a winning mentality. Without reinforcements, this season will be a slog with little to show at the end of it.
Deepthrow
Get your head out of your arse Nick. its not going to happen. wenger has taken us as far as he can
21 Jan 2013 00:19:13
The most clinical finisher we have doesn't even get played through the middle.
We really should give Podolski a chance through the middle sometimes.
But regardless, a goal poaching star striker would be welcomed.
Nick.
21 Jan 2013 08:13:47
Arsene thinks we've just signed him - his name is Walcott.
Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Podolski play through the middle early on in the season and not play too well there?
No he always played on left for us and always subbed
21 Jan 2013 00:16:52
A small part of me wants us to miss out on top 4, it'd be a huge wake up call to the club.
Who knows, maybe we could even win or come close to winning the Europa League.
Obviously I'd rather CL but a wake up call is needed.
Nick.
We couldn't even beat Bradford so I see no hope in winning the Europa league. To be honest we probably won't even qualify for it as I expect we will finish in 7th this season.
Sometomes feel like that but it would likely mean finishing below the Spuds.